Combination lock

ABSTRACT

A combination lock having a single ratchet wheel with at least one tooth space of greater depth than the other tooth spaces. The ratchet wheel is moved in a predetermined combination along a single plane and rotationally advanced in a continuous manner. A cancelling member is capable of releasing the ratchet wheel if the predetermined combination is not followed. The lock is released after the predetermined combination has been followed and the ratchet wheel is moved in a transverse direction to the plane of the combination movements.

Ut Stn tt Inventor Poul Martins Lylbaeltgade 10, 2300 Copenhagen, Denmark Appl. No. 886,361 Filed Dec. 10, 1969 Patented Aug. 311, 1971 Priority Dec. 19, 1968 Denmark 6249/60 COMBINATION LOCK 11 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 70/313, 70/25 lint. Cl 1E05b 37/00, E05b 67/28 lField of Search 70/3 1 3,

[ 1 manna [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,260,079 7/1966 Caskey 70/25 FOREIGN PATENTS 964,610 7/1964 Great Britain 70/313 Primary Examiner-Albert G. Craig, Jr. Attorney-Sughrue, Rothwell, Mion, Zinn & Macpeak ABSTRACT: A combination lock having a single ratchet wheel with at least one tooth space of greater depth than the other tooth spaces. The ratchet wheel is moved in a predetermined combination along a single plane and rotationally advanced in a continuous manner. A cancelling member is capable of releasing the ratchet wheel if the predetermined combination is not followed. The lock is released after the predetermined combination has been followed and the ratchet wheel is moved in a transverse direction to the plane of the combination movements.

PATENTED M183] 1971 SHEET 3 OF 4 PATENTEUAUGBI lsn 3,602,021

sum u [If 4 COMBINATION LOCK This invention relates to a combination lock having a combination mechanism movable in the lock casing in three directions by means of an operating handle. Two of the directions are opposedly directed adjustment movements, in which the combination mechanism is moved toward the one or the other of two adjustment ratchets, respectively, mounted in the casing, while the third direction is a releasing movement running transversely to the first two directions. The movement of the combination mechanism can result in the opening of the lock provided that the lock is set to the correct combination by the preceding movement in the first two directions that will correspond to the set combination.

Such combination locks, which by way of example only, can be employed as bicycle locks, are in the prior art, constructed with a number of combination elements corresponding to the number of ciphers in the cipher combination provided for the unlocking of the lock. These combination elements are, for instance, constituted by ratchet wheels, where each ratchet wheel corresponds to one cipher in the combination and is adjusted by movements in the two combination adjustment directions, that is to say, in such a way that the first ratchet wheel, by movement in the one direction, is brought into engagement with a ratchet in the casing, whereby this ratchet wheel is advanced a number of teeth corresponding to the number of movements to the side in question. By movement to the opposite side, the next ratchet wheel is acted upon by a corresponding ratchet. In order to get the third ratchet wheel adjusted after this, a displacement of the first ratchet takes place in the intermediate step from the movement to the first side to the movement to the other side, in such a way that same engages with the third wheel, when effecting the adjustment in the first adjustment direction the next time. In a similar manner, during the intermediate stage the other ratchet is displaced into a position, in which it can later engage with the fourth ratchet wheel so that the displacement continues depending on the number of ratchet wheels present.

The displacement of the ratchets thus necessarily entails a fairly complicated construction and especially, where the need for a relatively inexpensive lock exists which is not too bulky as in the case of bicycle locks it is difficult to produce this complicated construction.

The combination lock according to the present invention is characteristic in that the combination mechanism comprises a single ratchet wheel interacting with both ratchets in dependence upon the direction of movement and which is mounted in such a way relative to the ratchets that the wheel can be turned one tooth step by each movement toward one of the ratchets and with the same direction of rotation, irrespective of whether the movement is directed toward the one or the other of the ratchets. After a specific number of tooth steps, the ratchet wheel engages with members for actuating the releasing members of the lock. At least one of the tooth spaces in the ratchet wheel possess a greater depth than the others to allow cooperation with a cancellation member to return the ratchet wheel to its initial position. The ratchet wheel is acted upon by a return spring for its return to the starting position and is engaged with a holding ratchet for securing the ratchet wheel after eachtooth step in the adjustment direction, which holding ratchet is under the influence ofa cancelling member having operative parts in the path of each of the adjustment ratchets during their introduction into a tooth space of greater depth. for the release ofthe ratchet wheel for returning it to its starting position by means of the return spring.

This construction results in u very considerable simplification in comparison with the known locks, since only one single combination element is being used, so that the ratchets fitted in the casing need not be displacable into different positions, and thereby may be constructed particularly from nothing more than a piece of suitably bent spring wire. This, furthermore, permits the lock of this invention, as opposed to previously known locks, to utilize a single variable element, that is the ratchet wheel.

In mass production, it is always a problem to construct an assembly of a number of different elements. This invention helps to eliminate this problem by reducing the elements in a combination lock by eliminating the necessity of having a number of combination ciphers.

In the following, the invention is explained in greater detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the combination lock according to this invention as seen from the rear.

FIG. 2 shows the lock of FIG. 1 with its rear plate removed.

FIG. 3 shows the view of FIG. 2, but with further elements removed.

FIG. 4 shows the view of FIG. 3, but in another position.

FIG. 5 shows a section taken along the lines V--V in FIG. 1.

The bicycle lock shown is constructed as a bicycle lock of the kind which is intended for being secured over the rear wheel of a bicycle with the two prongs of the lock gripping down around the rear wheel and with a circular locking bar 2, which, in the locked position, grips down around the rim of the wheel in between its spokes.

The casing of the locking mechanism is designated as 3 and consists of two parts, i.e., a bottom part 4 and a cover piece 5.

The cover piece 5 has, as is seen in FIG. 1, a recess 6 in the form of an inverted T, through which the operating pin 7 juts out. The operating pin 7 is held in the position shown in FIG. 1 with the aid of springs 8 and 9, against which it is possible to displace the operating pin in the three directions, i.e., partly to the right and left in the figure, and partly upwards. The first two directions of movement denote combination adjustment directions, while the latter is the unlocking position.

One of the outside of the cover piece 5, there is a projecting tongue 10, on which a blocking arm 11 can swing, the arm 11 being, by means ofa spring 12 kept in the blocking position, in such a way that a shoulder 13 on the blocking arm grips down in front of an edge 14 on the blocking bar 2 and by this means secures it in the locked position.

The operating pin 7 is connected with a carrier plate 15, which is capable of swinging on a tongue 16 extending through a recess 17 in the carrier plate 15. The recess 17 is sufficiently large to permit the movement of the carrier plate by displace ment of the pin 7 in the unlocking direction to take place unimpeded by the tongue 16.

On the pin 7 there is supported a ratchet wheel 18 which constitutes the only combination element of the lock.

A releasing arm 19 is supported on the pin 7; the arm 19 being, by means of a spring 29, held in the rest position shown in FIG. 2. Releasing arm 19 contacts a carrier plate 15 through a neck 21 located on the plate 15.

The ratchet wheel 18 is held with the aid ofa spring 22, FIG. 5, in its starting position shown in FIG. 2. A tongue 23 on the ratchet wheel 18 is in contact with a projection 24 on the releasing arm 19.

When the ratchet wheel 18 is, by means of the adjustment pin 7, moved to the left of FIG. 2, the teeth of the ratchet wheel 18 impinge upon an adjustment ratchet 25 made of spring wire, which is secured in the bottom part 4 of the casing, in such a fashion that the ratchet wheel 1%, by means of a movement to the left of FIG. 2, is moved one tooth step forward. When the ratchet wheel 18 is thereupon moved to the right in FIG. 2 by displacement of the adjustment pin 7, the ratchet wheel 18 strikes against another ratchet 26 constructed in a corresponding manner, by which means the ratchet wheel lid is likewise advanced on tooth step, provided that the adjustment movement concerned is in accordance with what has been stipulated by the prescribed combination, as will be described later in greater detail.

After each advancement ofthe ratchet wheel l8, one step at a time, the wheel is maintained in the new position against the action of the spring 22 by means of a holding ratchet 27. This holding ratchet 27 can swing on a tongue 28 on the carrier plate 15 and is kept pressed against the teeth of the ratchet wheel 18 with the aid of a spring 29.

On the pin 7 opposite to the carrier plate there is, moreover, supported a freely rotatable cancelling member 30, which lies on a level with the holding ratchet 27. This cancelling member 30 normally assumes the position shown in FIG. 3, in that it is constructed with projections 31 and 32, of which the projection 31, by rotating the cancelling member 30 clockwise, comes into abutment against an edge surface 33 on the holding ratchet 27, while the projection 32, by rotating the cancelling member 30 in the opposite direction, will come into abutment against a surface 34 on the holding ratchet 27. There is, however, sufficient clearance between the two projections 31 and 32 to permit the holding ratchet 27 to carry out a normal movement into an out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 18 during the travel of the same by means of each of the adjustment ratchets and 26.

Furthermore, the cancelling member 30, which is constructed as a disc, has two diametrically opposed toes 35 and 36. The distance from tip to tip of these two toes 35 and 36 is smaller than the diameter of a circle through the bottom of the normal tooth space 37 of the ratchet wheel 18, but the ratchet wheel 18 has in certain places deeper tooth spaces, of which in FIG. 2 there are shown only two, i.e., tooth space 38 and tooth space 39. The diameter of a circle through the bottom of such deeper tooth spaces is smaller than the distance from tip to tip of the toes 35 and 36. The toes 35 and 36, in FlG. 3, assume such a position that the toe 35, by displacement of the ratchet wheel by means of the operating pin 7 toward the adjustment ratchet 25, will be acted upon by this adjustment ratchet when same engages with such a deeper tooth space 38, sothat the cancelling member in such a case will be advanced one tooth space together with the ratchet wheel 18. This has the effect of the projection 31 on the cancelling member passing an elbow 39 on the edge surface 33 of the holding ratchet 33 and the cancelling member then comes to assume the position shown in FIG. 4, in which the projection 31 keeps the holding ratchet 27 pressed out of engagement with the teeth of ratchet wheel I8, in a way that the wheel, by means ofthe spring 27, is returned to the starting position. The cancelling member 30 It is seen from this that certain adjustment movements do exist which are permissible, as they will result in the advance of the ratchet wheel 18, while other movements are not permissible, because they will result in the cancellation of the adjustment already carried out and preclude any further adjustment. One is enabled thereby to determine specific combination expressed in a number of several digits, for instance in such a way that the first combination number states, how many times the operating pin is to be moved to the left, the second one, how many times the operating pin is subsequently to be moved again to the left and so forth, as it is only necessary to distribute a number of deepened tooth spaces on the ratchet wheel 18 in such a way that any movement which, at a given moment, does not comply with the combination, results in the engagement between an adjustment ratchet and a deepened tooth space.

If, by an erroneous adjustment, the position shown in FIG. 4 of the cancelling member 30 and the holding ratchet 17 has been brought about, it is possible to reestablish the starting position which is shown in FIG. 3, by moving the operating pin 7 upwards in the direction at right angles to the adjustment movements. By means of such a movement, the cancelling and the holding ratchet 27 now remain in the position shown in FIG. 4, so that any additional adjustment movement, whether this be to the right or to the left in FIG. 2, will be ineffective, since the ratchet wheel 18 will each time be advanced one tooth step, but will at one be returned again by means of the spring 22, because the holding ratchet does not engage with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 18.

' The same effect would have occurred, if, instead of leading the ratchet wheel 18 to the left into engagement with the adjustment ratchet 25 in the deepened tooth space 38, the ratchet wheel would have been led to the right into engagement with the adjustment ratchet 26 in the deepened tooth space 39, since in such a case it will be the toe 36, which has been acted upon by the adjustment ratchet 26, which likewise results in a clockwise turning of the cancelling member 30 to the position shown in FIG. 4.

If one now regards the ratchet wheel 18 in the position shown in FIG. 2, it will immediately be seen that amovement to the right of the ratchet wheel 18 is going to result in the adjustment ratchet 26 coming into engagement with the deepened tooth space 39 and will thereby bring about the state shown in FIG. 3. Such a movement is also incapable of resulting in any adjustment of the ratchet wheel to a specific terminal position, and any subsequent movement is ineffecnve.

On the other hand, one single movement to the left will have the effect of advancing the ratchet wheel 18 one tooth step, because the adjustment ratchet thereby engages with a normal tooth space. A subsequent movement in the same direction of the ratchet wheel 18 will result in the adjustment ratchet 25 engaging with the deepened tooth space 38, so that the state shown in FIG. 4 is produced thereby. When the ratchet wheel 18, by means of a single movement to the left, is moved one tooth step forward, the deepened tooth space 39 will have displaced itself, in a way that a subsequent movement of the ratchet wheel 18 toward the adjustment ratchet 26 will result in one tooth step advance of the ratchet wheel 18.

member 30 through a edge 40 on the projection 32 comes into contact with the adjustment ratchet 25, which thereby produces an anticlockwise rotation of the cancelling member 30, so that it assumes the position shownin FIG. 3, whereby the holding ratchet 27, by means of the spring 29, is also brought to assume the position shown in FIG. 3, in which it engages with the ratchet wheel 18 which, as a consequence of the wrong adjustment is already brought to the starting position by means of the spring 22. A renewed effort to follow the unlocking combination can subsequently be started.

An unlocking movement of the operating pin 7 carried out following a wrong adjustment has, as can be seen from the following, no influence upon the blocking arm 11, so that the lock remains locked.

When the combination adjustment movements are constantly carried out correctly in accordance with the determined combination, the ratchet wheel 18 is constantly moved one tooth step forward, and by means of the last movement according to the combination, the ratchet wheel 18 will thereby be moved so that a tongue 41 on the same will come into contact with a projecting edge 42 on the releasing arm 19, so that same, by means of the last adjustment movement, is turned in the same direction as the ratchet wheel18 to the position indicated with dot and dash lines in FIG. 2, in which a tongue 43, FIG. 5, mounted on the releasing arm comes in below a hook 44 on the locking arm 11.

When the operating pin 7, in this position, is moved upwards in the unlocking direction, the releasing tripping arm 19 will then through a tongue 43 engage with the hook 44 on the blocking arm 11 and raise it in such a manner that the engagement between the edge 13 and the lug 14 on the locking bar 2 is cancelled, so that the locking bar is released and brought to the unlocked position by means of a spring 46.

The holding ratchet 27 has, just like the carrier plate 15, a recess 47, through which the tongue 16 projects. The recess is, however, shaped in such a waythat it, with its edge 48, comes into abutment against the tongue 16 before the unlocking movement is concluded, so that the holding ratchet 27 is, during the unlocking movement, moved out of engagement with the ratchet wheel I8, which thereby, by means of the spring 22, is returned to the zero position.

The releasing tripping arm 19 has at the same time returned to the position shown in FIG. 2, and in order to insure that this return travel is not impeded on account of friction, there is on the blocking arm 11 constructed a projecting edge 49 which, during the unlocking movement of the locking arm 2 abuts against the same and possesses such a shape that the blocking arm 11 is raised so that the hook 44 disengages from tongue 43, in such a way that the releasing arm 19 is able to freely swing back to its starting position shown in FIG. 2 due to the action of the spring 20.

in the embodiment shown, the adjustment movements occur as swinging movements, in that the carrier plate swings around the pin 16, but it will immediately be seen that it is possible to employ a carrier plate instead which, during the adjusting movements, effect a linear displacement.

For the return of the cancelling member, so that the holding ratchet is released, a pin or ear especially fitted in the casing, may be employed, against which a part of the cancelling member comes into abutment by means of the unlocking movement, but the use of one of the adjusting ratchets, in a way as is the case in the embodiment shown in the drawing, results in a simpler construction.

Instead of being constructed of spring wire, as is the case in the embodiment shown, the adjusting ratchets may be constructed of rigid material, as in such a case they will have to be pivotably supported in the casing and will have to be under the influence of a spring, in order that the desired function be obtained. This does complicate the construction, but precludes such failures as may arise through a deformation of the ratchets constructed of spring wire.

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

ll. Opp'osedly combination lock of the type having a combination mechanism movable in the lock casing in three directions by means of an operating handle, two of the directions being opposedly directed adjustment directions while the third direction is a releasing direction transverse to the first two directions; an adjustment ratchet is positioned in the casing operatively adjacent each adjustment direction, whereby movement of the combination mechanism in the first two adjustment directions in accordance with a predetermined combination can release the lock; the improvement comprising a single ratchet wheel capable of interacting with either adjustment ratchet depending upon the direction of dis placement; mounting means for the single ratchet wheel that permits the wheel to be turned by the adjustment ratchets in the same direction, irrespective whether the wheel is displaced toward one or the other of the ratchets; at least one tooth space of the ratchet wheel having a greater depth than the other tooth spaces; a return spring operatively connected to the ratchet wheel to bias it towardan initial position; a holding means for securing the ratchet wheel after each tooth step in the adjustment direction; a cancelling means operatively connected to one of the adjustment ratchets only when it engages the tooth space having a greater depth whereby the holding means is rendered inoperative and the return spring returns the ratchet wheel to its initial position; and releasing means to open the lock after a predetermined movement of the ratchet wheel by the adjustment ratchets,

2. A combination lock as in claim ll wherein the cancelling means including a member shaped like a disc which carries two diametrically opposed projections, the distance from the tip of the projections is smaller than the diameter of a circle through the bottom of the tooth spaces of normal depth but larger than the diameter of a circle through the bottom of the tooth space having a greater depth; the holding ratchet having an engaging arm which contacts the ratchet wheel and a camming surface; the cancelling member further having two additional projections, the first projection in the operating position of the holding ratchet abuts against the engaging arm and the second projection abuts adjacent the camming surface whereby the cancelling member is secured against movement except for the small movement necessary during the advance of the ratchet wheel in accordance with the combination; the camming surface of the holding ratchet is capable of moving the holding ratchet out of operative connection with the ratchet wheel when contacted by the second projection on the cancelling member adjacent the camming surface, the second projection is activated by engagement of one of the adjustment ratchets with the tooth space of greater depth.

3. A combination lock as in claim 2 wherein the camming surface of the holding ratchet is shaped to prevent the holding ratchet from engaging the ratchet wheel during subsequent contact with the adjustment ratchets.

4. A combination as in claim 3 further including a projection means in the casing and an edge on the first projection, the projection means operatively contacting the edge upon movement of the pin in the transverse release direction to return the cancelling member and holding ratchets to their normal operative positions for permitting the ratchet wheel to be advanced in accordance with the predetermined combination.

5. A combination look as in claim 4 wherein the projection means is one of the adjustment ratchets.

6. A combination lock as in claim 1 further including in the mounting means, a pin connected to the operating handle and pivotally supporting the ratchet wheel and cancelling member; a spring biasing holding ratchet against the ratchet wheel and a carrier plate connected to the pin and supporting the holding ratchet.

7. A combination lock as in claim 6 wherein the carrier plate has an aperture and a tongue fixed to the casing extending through the aperture to produce a swinging movement of the carrier plate during adjustment movement of the pin, the aperture being sufficiently large to enable the carrier plate to be displaced without interference from the tongue during a traverse unlocking movement.

8. A combination lock as in claim 7 wherein the holding ratchet has an aperture through which the tongue extends, the aperture shaped to permit the release of the ratchet wheel without releasing the cancelling member during a traverse unlocking movement.

9. A combination lock as in claim 6 further including a blocking arm pivotally supported in the casing, a locking bar, and a releasing arm having a tongue pivotally supported around the adjustment pin whereby the blocking arm blocks the locking bar and the tongue on the releasing arm engages the blocking arm during the traverse unlocking movement to release the locking bar.

110. A combination lock as in claim 9 wherein a hook is connected to the blocking arm for engaging the tongue of the releasing arm during the unlocking movement.

111. A combination lock as in claim 10 wherein the blocking arm has a projecting edge which contacts the locking bar during the unlocking movement, the projecting edge is shaped so that the hook of the blocking arm is raised clear of the tongue of the releasing arm, 

1. Opposedly combination lock of the type having a combination mechanism movable in the lock casing in three directions by means of an operating handle, two of the directions being opposedly directed adjustment directions while the third direction is a releasing direction transverse to the first two directions; an adjustment ratchet is positioned in the casing operatively adjacent each adjustment direction, whereby movement of the combination mechanism in the first two adjustment directions in accordance with a predetermined combination can release the lock; the improvement comprising a single ratchet wheel capable of interacting with either adjustment ratchet depending upon the direction of displacement; mounting means for the single ratchet wheel that permits the wheel to be turned by the adjustment ratChets in the same direction, irrespective whether the wheel is displaced toward one or the other of the ratchets; at least one tooth space of the ratchet wheel having a greater depth than the other tooth spaces; a return spring operatively connected to the ratchet wheel to bias it toward an initial position; a holding means for securing the ratchet wheel after each tooth step in the adjustment direction; a cancelling means operatively connected to one of the adjustment ratchets only when it engages the tooth space having a greater depth whereby the holding means is rendered inoperative and the return spring returns the ratchet wheel to its initial position; and releasing means to open the lock after a predetermined movement of the ratchet wheel by the adjustment ratchets.
 2. A combination lock as in claim 1 wherein the cancelling means including a member shaped like a disc which carries two diametrically opposed projections, the distance from the tip of the projections is smaller than the diameter of a circle through the bottom of the tooth spaces of normal depth but larger than the diameter of a circle through the bottom of the tooth space having a greater depth; the holding ratchet having an engaging arm which contacts the ratchet wheel and a camming surface; the cancelling member further having two additional projections, the first projection in the operating position of the holding ratchet abuts against the engaging arm and the second projection abuts adjacent the camming surface whereby the cancelling member is secured against movement except for the small movement necessary during the advance of the ratchet wheel in accordance with the combination; the camming surface of the holding ratchet is capable of moving the holding ratchet out of operative connection with the ratchet wheel when contacted by the second projection on the cancelling member adjacent the camming surface, the second projection is activated by engagement of one of the adjustment ratchets with the tooth space of greater depth.
 3. A combination lock as in claim 2 wherein the camming surface of the holding ratchet is shaped to prevent the holding ratchet from engaging the ratchet wheel during subsequent contact with the adjustment ratchets.
 4. A combination as in claim 3 further including a projection means in the casing and an edge on the first projection, the projection means operatively contacting the edge upon movement of the pin in the transverse release direction to return the cancelling member and holding ratchets to their normal operative positions for permitting the ratchet wheel to be advanced in accordance with the predetermined combination.
 5. A combination lock as in claim 4 wherein the projection means is one of the adjustment ratchets.
 6. A combination lock as in claim 1 further including in the mounting means, a pin connected to the operating handle and pivotally supporting the ratchet wheel and cancelling member; a spring biasing holding ratchet against the ratchet wheel and a carrier plate connected to the pin and supporting the holding ratchet.
 7. A combination lock as in claim 6 wherein the carrier plate has an aperture and a tongue fixed to the casing extending through the aperture to produce a swinging movement of the carrier plate during adjustment movement of the pin, the aperture being sufficiently large to enable the carrier plate to be displaced without interference from the tongue during a traverse unlocking movement.
 8. A combination lock as in claim 7 wherein the holding ratchet has an aperture through which the tongue extends, the aperture shaped to permit the release of the ratchet wheel without releasing the cancelling member during a traverse unlocking movement.
 9. A combination lock as in claim 6 further including a blocking arm pivotally supported in the casing, a locking bar, and a releasing arm having a tongue pivotally supported around the adjustment pin whereby the blocking arm blocks the locking bar and the tongue on the releasing arm engages the Blocking arm during the traverse unlocking movement to release the locking bar.
 10. A combination lock as in claim 9 wherein a hook is connected to the blocking arm for engaging the tongue of the releasing arm during the unlocking movement.
 11. A combination lock as in claim 10 wherein the blocking arm has a projecting edge which contacts the locking bar during the unlocking movement, the projecting edge is shaped so that the hook of the blocking arm is raised clear of the tongue of the releasing arm. 